What is kali?

Kali, also known as Kali Ma, is a Hindu goddess who is considered the fierce form of the Divine Mother. She is often depicted as a dark-skinned goddess with multiple arms, each holding a weapon or symbolic object. Kali is associated with destruction, transformation, and empowerment. She is worshipped by devotees seeking protection, strength, and liberation from negative forces.

Kali is often depicted with a severed head in one hand and a weapon in another, symbolizing her power to destroy ego, ignorance, and negative influences. She is also associated with time, change, and the cycles of birth and death.

In Hindu mythology, Kali is the consort of Lord Shiva and is said to have emerged from his third eye during a battle with demons. Her name is derived from the Sanskrit word "kala," meaning time or death, symbolizing her role as the ultimate reality beyond the material world.

Devotees of Kali often perform rituals and ceremonies to honor her, invoking her fierce energy to overcome obstacles and attain spiritual growth. Kali is worshipped in temples dedicated to her, especially in the Indian state of West Bengal, where she is venerated as the patron goddess.

Overall, Kali represents the divine feminine in her most fierce and powerful aspect, embodying both destruction and creation in the eternal cycle of life.